Studying history was one of my favorite subjects — a passion, a hobby, call it whatever you like. But when did that passion begin? I don't know. I remember hearing that history repeats itself, and from there I began to feel a curiosity to explore. Perhaps it was the idea of using the past to read the future. It was an amusing thought… and later, it became even more enjoyable.
I won't deny that it was boring sometimes too, but historical fiction was the fuel of that curiosity. You know, they say imagination is just a different expression of reality — believe it or not, that's somewhat true.
Just remove that person who eats stars for breakfast, and you'll be fine if you want to apply that equation.
Who knows? Maybe space begins with discovering the nature of atoms. Maybe truly understanding the world begins inside a house surrounded by those walls. So I studied, observed, and enjoyed myself… until reality started calling.
I needed money. I needed that currency. And if I had it, then I could do whatever I wanted afterward. I didn't want great wealth. I didn't want a luxurious palace. Just a small room, a phone connected to the network, and finally some modest food to satisfy my hunger every day.
If I wanted to dream a little further, maybe I'd ask for a computer. A bookshelf too. Maybe some sweets. And a window in the room.
So why didn't I just go to prison?
I don't like roommates. They say Norwegian prisons are nice, but I don't live there — and I doubt there's good internet. So let's just keep dreaming.
I'm a simple person in a simple world, living a simple life, staying away from people as much as possible. Unlike the knights in stories, the warriors, and those heroic epics recorded by history, I never had a grand goal. If I ever stepped out of routine, I'd think about asking someone out… then forget about it a few hours later. And if a girl confessed her love to me, I'd know I was dreaming and wake up.
Anyway, enough about that life. Let's return to the present situation and see what any of that has to do with this.
"Well then… where do I start?"
Maybe a few hours ago. After failing a data analyst interview at a mid-sized company. It wasn't my grades. Not my experience. Not my financial situation or my painfully average appearance. The reason was the same as always:
I couldn't answer that question.
Let's just say the famous "What can you offer this company?" question is one I never found an answer to. Isn't it enough that I'd force myself to show up every day and then go back home?
Who knows… if that company had offered me something that could make this heart come back to life, maybe I would've started thinking about what I could do for them.
"I wish the world would get hit by some kind of dungeon catastrophe or something."
The sad — and funny — part is that this wasn't my first rejection. I had started to find it amusing. As history says, the past repeats itself, and I had witnessed how everyone's expressions repeated in exactly the same way, no matter the company, when they heard my same boring answer.
What was that answer? Let's keep it a secret for now.
Another rejection. After that, I spent a few coins on cheap coffee, added a little water to stretch it, and prepared for the next interview — this time with an accounting firm.
But was the coffee too cheap? Or did I add too much water this time, hoping it would last a few more minutes?
Was that… poisoning?
The world spun. Suddenly I was in a strange room, then back on the street, then in the room again… and finally everything stopped moving.
A strange body. A strange world. The shock of unfamiliar memories turned imagination into reality. What was happening — what had happened — was no longer the problem. Now the question was where I was and how I got here.
"An emperor… now that's interesting."
I'm not scared. Not disturbed either. Honestly, I don't really care where I wake up the next day. It was a mild shock, and then I focused on reading those memories. I was never someone easy to frighten. The situation is illogical, sure, but it can be explained as some kind of transition… or something like that.
In fact, my previous life feels like the fake one right now. But that's fine. It's not that I'm not afraid or shocked — it's just that I'm the type who focuses more the more afraid he gets.
Otherwise, how could I ask that question with a stupid expression in front of interview supervisors without trembling when I'm not even a social person?
Anyway, back to the situation. The beauty of the room isn't important right now. Picture a medieval chamber, throw in some shine and color, and there you have the room of this young emperor.
Even my current fever isn't the problem — and it wasn't the cause of this person's death either.
He committed suicide.
Ran away from responsibility.
"Well. Wow. I'm really in another world — and on top of that, an emperor. Or rather, just a young man thrown onto the throne by his father, who ran away because he couldn't bear watching an empire collapse under his name."
The father ran. The son killed himself. The grandfather did too. And the one before him…
Alright. I should stop there before I actually get terrified of this situation.
"At least this guy is somewhat handsome."
A more accurate word would be "pleasant." The kind I really hate. But let's focus on the positives so I can process and understand the situation I'm in.
"From a shut-in to an emperor. Now that's a promotion in title."
The problem is I can't even be happy about this bizarre situation. Who wants to be king of a country already in the collapse stage? Forget the nature of his father and those before him, who caused this magnificent fall from a great empire into the abyss — I don't even know how to describe the state of this boy, who tried to fix things and ended up killing himself.
He wasn't stupid. Just not smart enough for this position. He tried to recover the situation, but only made it worse and let power slip from his hands. With nobles trying to devour the empire, he was like a small rabbit in the middle of it all, screaming unheard.
[A rabbit fighting among wolves.]
That sums up what he went through.
A boy who took the throne at twenty and endured for three years before reaching his end and taking his own life.
"Enduring for three years is somewhat admirable… but the ending is pitiful. Even Robert Clive didn't choose one like that."
But there is something interesting about this empire.
Magic? Not just that.
There are dwarves, elves, dragons… and slimes. Wow. I've always wanted to see a slime.
"I wonder if it's actually soft."
Yes, let's look at the bright side. There are slimes in this world.
Alright, putting aside the cute blue creature — how do we deal with this situation? If things end here, history might write something like: an emperor who caused a nation's collapse, then killed himself out of guilt or incompetence.
"Maybe history won't even write about him at all."
Let's analyze the problems this empire is facing.
"Or the stages a state goes through before it collapses."
Stage One: Excessive military expansion.
"Hm. No need to think — condition already met."
This empire once ruled many kingdoms that, incidentally, are now demanding independence. This issue began during the twelfth emperor and reached this boy. It wasn't a problem before, but with the empire's deterioration, it became a massive one. Stationing parts of the empire's strength in every occupied or allied kingdom — to protect, control, or intimidate enemies — while suffering internal crises was sheer stupidity and unsupported arrogance.
And the rule says:
"To be everywhere is to be strong nowhere. Frederick said that."
Anyone who thinks they can control the world like that should try coffee diluted with water. It'll taste more real than this fantasy. This is no different from tying the empire's edges together with ropes made of sand.
"A perfectly organized drain. At least it was noticed… just too late."
His father and grandfather finally withdrew forces from those kingdoms when the empire could no longer support them. But even the withdrawal was handled foolishly, worsening relations with other kingdoms, damaging the empire's prestige even further.
"And as a result of that brilliance, thousands of soldiers returned to the empire — which means more hungry mouths needing tons of food every day… and swords that might turn toward my neck if their salaries are delayed."
And were they delayed? Yes. This rabbit followed in his father's footsteps, downsizing and dismissing thousands of soldiers or sending them to guard borders — creating even more rebels.
"Seriously… this situation alone is hard to fix. So what about Stage Two? Did it happen?"
Stage Two: Currency devaluation.
"Hahaha… now this is getting really interesting."